Republican Darren Bailey has secured the GOP nomination for Illinois governor and will face incumbent Democratic Governor JB Pritzker in November, setting up a rematch of their 2022 contest.

Bailey previously challenged Pritzker in 2022, losing by 12 percentage points in that election. Illinois voters have consistently favored Democratic candidates in recent statewide elections, presenting Bailey with significant challenges in his second gubernatorial campaign.

Pritzker, who is seeking his second term as governor, defeated Bailey decisively in their previous matchup. The incumbent governor has been active on the national political stage, recently outlining what he calls a Democratic policy blueprint.

The November election will test whether Bailey can overcome the electoral dynamics that favored Pritzker in their first contest. Illinois has been a reliably Democratic state in statewide races in recent election cycles, with Republican candidates facing an uphill battle to win major offices.

Both candidates will now turn their attention to the general election campaign, with Bailey needing to expand his appeal beyond the Republican primary electorate that nominated him for a second time.